It’s funny how corporations are distancing themselves from the NSA surveillance scandal and PRISM. They know many Americans are outraged at these actions. I think Yahoo is getting that.
Yahoo is asking US courts to release files that clearly reveal Yahoo?was vehemently opposed to the government’s demand to read people’s email and do other surveillance acts without the people’s knowledge or approval, or without proper search and seizure warrants. In 2008, Yahoo lost a case in which they tried to stop this kind of surveillance. Until very recently, they couldn’t even reveal it was the company that lost the case. Civil libertarians say if Yahoo can release these files, then we’ll know more about what our government is up to, especially the NSA and FISA and organizations of that kind. One?Yahoo blogger said, “I think there are better ways to protect the rights of U.S. persons who may be affected by this surveillance.”?Yahoo is just leading the charge. Other Silicon Valley corporations are also challenging secrecy and spying rulings.
So now that the public know what’s going on, at least to an extent, of course Internet companies are distancing themselves. Can you blame them? And I think they’re being sincere. Remember, the NSA and other gov’t agencies came to them, not the other way around. Why do you think the courts are fighting to stop these files from being revealed and these companies are fighting to release them? But I am a little afraid of what could be revealed if these files went public. Think about what we already know. What secrets will these files teach us and how less confident will we be in our gov’t and corporations?